WPPSEF and PA Wilds Center Celebrate Stewardship Partnership: Clean Energy Funding Workshop Announced for December 15 in McKean County

WPPSEF and PA Wilds Center Celebrate Stewardship Partnership: Clean Energy Funding Workshop Announced for December 15 in McKean County

December 1, 2017 — On December 15 in Kane, West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF) will host a “Breakfast with the Fund” seminar in Kane to present funding opportunities for clean energy projects for both private sector entities and non-profits. The workshop has been developed in collaboration with the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. (PA Wilds Center).

The WPPSEF Breakfast with the Fund will take place on December 15th, 2017 in McKean County at the Laughing Owl Press Co., 59 N Fraley Street in Kane, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. Light refreshments will be served.

WPPSEF is a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides investment capital for clean energy projects that benefit the West Penn Power ratepayer. The Fund will present on their open Request for Proposals (RFP) for innovative clean energy projects seeking non-traditional funding opportunities with flexible terms. The deadline to submit proposals is February 27, 2018.

The PA Wilds Center, a regional nonprofit, received a $23,800 grant from WPPSEF to create educational materials to raise awareness about several LEED-certified nature tourism facilities that have opened in the Pennsylvania Wilds in recent years. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

Said Ta Enos, Executive Director of the PA Wilds Center, “Sustainable energy is a theme weaved throughout the PA Wilds work. We are thrilled to partner with WPPSEF for the December 15 Breakfast with the Fund to help connect other complementary clean energy projects in the Wilds with new potential funding sources. Stewardship and conservation is a large, collaborative, long-term effort; I hope many stakeholders take advantage of the WPPSEF December 15th program to learn more.”

The seminar will also feature the debut of a short video on the Pennsylvania Wilds titled “Life Above 80,” that overviews the successful stewardship partnership between the PA Wilds Center and WPPSEF. The professionally produced video is a part of WPPSEF’s signature “The Quiet Ones” series spotlighting successful clean energy investments in the region. Other projects highlighted in “The Quiet Ones” series include the Elk Country Visitor Center, Geisinger Medical Center, and Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh.

“We are at the beginning of revitalizing regional marketing for the Pennsylvania Wilds; as part of that work, we are launching a dedicated stewardship platform that celebrates the active conservation work taking place in the Wilds, opportunities to get involved, and vital storytelling on the rich heritage of stewardship in the region. Our partnership with WPPSEF is helping us communicate the vital role of conservation to a larger audience. Our high performance visitor centers travel promotion will get people out and into these buildings where they can learn about and see clean energy practices in practice. We are a region that inspires folks to get outdoors and appreciate nature, and the stewardship work takes this inspiration one step further – showing the critical role we all play – as organizations, communities, businesses, and individuals – to preserve our natural resources for future generations,” Enos said.

The PA Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR), a key stakeholder in the effort to grow nature and heritage tourism in the Pennsylvania Wilds, is committed to green building design and construction at its facilities as well as other energy efficiency initiatives. DCNR currently has has 15 LEED-certified buildings in the state; 7 of these facilities are in the Pennsylvania Wilds region. They include the Elk Country Visitor Center, Bald Eagle Nature Inn, Sproul State Forest Resource Management Center, Clear Creek State Forest Resource Management Center, Sinnemahoning State Park Wildlife Center, Kinzua Bridge State Park Visitor Center and Park Office, and the Tiadaghton State Forest Resource Management Center.

“We are proud to continue our investments in PA Wilds, and look forward to meeting new players in the region on December 15th that are committed to clean energy practices that support both long-term economic growth and environmental stewardship of this special region of the Commonwealth,” said Joel Morrison, WPPSEF Director.

Space is limited at the December 15th Breakfast with the Fund, and participants must register in advance.

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship (PA Wilds Center) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that strengthens and inspires communities in the Pennsylvania Wilds. The Pennsylvania Wilds region includes the counties of Warren, Forest, Elk, Potter, McKean, Tioga, Clinton, Lycoming, Clearfield, Jefferson, Cameron and Clarion, Northern Centre

The West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that invests in the deployment of sustainable energy technologies that benefit West Penn Power ratepayers in Pennsylvania. WPPSEF investments are focused in three broad categories:

Deployment of sustainable and clean energy technologies;

Deployment of energy efficiency and conservation technologies; and

Facilitating economic development, environmental betterment, and public education as they relate to sustainable energy deployment in the WPP service region.

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Author: Kristin Marconi

Born and raised in the PA Wilds, I grew up surrounded by vast forest in a supportive, small town community that's been home to 5 generations of my family. After 10 years of living in urban areas, I relocated back to my home in the Wilds. While I love to adventure and travel, the PA Wilds Lifestyle to me is second to none... it's the great forested landscapes, fresh air and room to move, close-knit communities and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, fun journeys, the arts and unique and authentic small businesses. Wild and welcoming!